Movies and music are two very different industries. The ultimate goal of both is to entertain their audience, but they usually tend to stick to their own ways of doing that. There is some crossover though, such as music videos or film soundtracks, and sometimes people from one industry like to branch out into the other.
2021 saw a whole host of musicians making it into the movies, from historical dramas to comedies to tentpole action franchises. While a few of them were met with mixed reviews, these actors proved that not everyone has to be a one trick pony.
Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi, Don't Look Up
Adam McKay's satirical disaster movie Don't Look Up starred an enormous ensemble cast of everyone from Jonah Hill to Meryl Streep, but it also featured two of pop music's biggest acts in Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi. Essentially playing parodies of themselves, Grande and Cudi portray two pop idols who also perform the movie's eponymous title song.
While neither singer is a major player in the story, their moments on screen are entertaining and prove both of them to be pretty capable actors, and their hilariously on-the-nose musical number is sure to be one of the more memorable moments in the film.
Ludacris, Fast and Furious 9
The Fast and the Furious franchise seemingly makes a habit out of bringing in the biggest names possible to its ensemble cast with each new movie, and the list just keeps growing. Ludacris, who plays a member of the team at the center of the films, has actually been a central character of the franchise since its second installment, and reprised his role for 2021's F9.
Ludacris actually has quite a long-acting resume, appearing in many television and film roles since the early 2000's. He is also still active in the music scene, making albums and movies. Despite his long music career, it is possible that many fans know Ludacris from the Fast and Furious franchise.
Will Smith, King Richard
To call Will Smith a musician at this point would almost be doing him a disservice, as his now legendary acting career has far eclipsed his musical career, but the now A-list star did actually begin his career as a rapper. Smith was known for his energetic and relatively clean songs before he made it big in projects like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Men In Black.
In King Richard, Smith plays the father and coach of all-time tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams as they work their way into sports legend. Smith's performance received very positive reviews, and is one of the highlights of the entire film.
Harry Styles, Eternals
Ever since the breakup of One Direction, Harry Styles has made a name for himself both as a solo performer and an actor, turning in a solid performance in Christopher Nolan's war epic Dunkirk that caught many fans by surprise. The former boy band member also made a surprise guest appearance in the post credits scene of Marvel's recent film Eternals, playing Eros, the apparent brother of Thanos.
Eros' role in the MCU going forward has yet to be determined, so it is unclear exactly how big of a role Styles will play in the series, but given his character's relation to Thanos and Styles' popularity, it is likely to be a big one.
Camila Cabello, Cinderella
2021's Cinderella was far from the most popular adaptation of the classic story, but it did have a few merits, most notably a stellar cast led by pop singer Camila Cabello in her first ever acting role. Known mostly for Latin-inspired songs like the massive hit Havana, Cabello had already proved herself to be talented enough for the musical performances of the titular Disney princess.
While the film itself was not terribly well received and made some questionable decisions with the music, Cabello's performance received positive reviews and gave her a chance to show off her acting talent as well as her musical chops.
Jennifer Hudson, Respect
Jennifer Hudson has cemented her status as an immense talent in both music and film many times over, and her turn as legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin in the long-gestating biopic Respect was no different. Hudson was Aretha Franklin's own pick for the role, and her commanding turn as the Queen of Soul makes it clear that she was the perfect choice.
Respect was unfortunately not a huge success, but Hudson's portrayal of Franklin received almost unanimous praise from critics. Her ability to do convincingly portray the music icon and do justice to her legendary vocals make Respect one of the best musical biopics to watch right now.
Awkwafina, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Another big name star to get their start as a rapper, Awkwafina has quickly risen to prominence in Hollywood in recent years, starring in several highly anticipated movies. First making a name for herself with her hilarious and self-aware rap songs, Awkwafina quickly established herself as a strong comedic performer as well as a skilled dramatic actor in films like Crazy Rich Asians and The Farewell.
This "Awkwassance" led to her starring as the scene stealing supporting character Katy in Marvel's Shang Chi. Katy added a sense of humor and relatability to the already phenomenal martial arts scenes, and quickly became a fan favorite.
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a biopic based on the true story of singer Billie Holiday, whose controversial songs about racial injustice were subject to intense scrutiny during the 1930's. In the film, Holiday is played by R&B singer Andra Day.
Despite being a relatively new artist, Day has already received significant praise as a singer, being nominated for multiple awards including a Grammy. Day's performance as Billie Holiday also received high praise from critics, even though the film itself received mixed reviews. Day was nominated for an Academy Award for the film, adding an Oscar nomination to her long list of accolades.
Alana Haim and Tom Waits, Licorice Pizza
Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza is a delightful coming of age film and one of the best original films of 2021. It's nostalgic tone and star-studded cast made it an instant hit, but it was actually the film debut for both of its two leads, including singer and guitarist Alana Haim.
Alana and her two sisters make up the pop rock band Haim, and Alana has garnered praise for both her music and her performance in the film. Licorice Pizza also features a performance from the multi-talented Tom Waits, who has become a cult favorite both for his varied and iconic music, as well as his numerous film roles over the years.
Lady Gaga and Jared Leto, House of Gucci
Fresh off one the best movie performances ever by a musician in A Star is Born, Lady Gaga went on to star in Ridley Scott's crime thriller based on the real life murder of fashion magnate Maurizio Gucci. Gaga, whose musical career needs no introduction, plays Maurizio's manipulative wife Patrizia Reggiani who schemes to take over his share of the company.
Academy Award winner Jared Leto, who is the frontman of rock band 30 Seconds To Mars, also stars in the film as Paolo Gucci. While House Of Gucci was met with very mixed reviews at best, Gaga and Leto both received positive acclaim for their performances.